Creating a Python Virtual Environment – Step by Step

Hello Techkie,

It’s been a while since my last post. I got caught up with some personal and technical hurdles — but I’m back on track now, ready to share more useful content.

Today, I’ll walk you through how to create and manage a Python virtual environment, a crucial tool for isolating dependencies in your Python projects.

---

Why Use a Virtual Environment?

A virtual environment allows you to:

• Keep your project’s dependencies separate from system-wide packages

• Avoid conflicts between multiple Python projects

• Easily manage and reproduce environments for development or deployment

---

Step 1: Install virtualenv

First, ensure you have pip installed. Then run:

bash

sudo pip install virtualenv

If you're using Python 3+ and want to be explicit:

bash

sudo pip3 install virtualenv

---

Step 2: Create a Virtual Environment

Run the following command to create a virtual environment:

bash

virtualenv -p /usr/bin/python3.5 myenv

• Replace /usr/bin/python3.5 with the Python interpreter of your choice.

• Replace myenv with your desired environment name.

---

Step 3: Activate the Virtual Environment

To activate the environment, run:

bash

source myenv/bin/activate

Once activated, your terminal prompt will change to show the active environment. You can now install packages using pip, and they’ll be scoped to this environment.

---

Bonus: Deactivating the Environment

To deactivate the environment and return to the global Python setup:

bash

deactivate

---

Summary

Using virtual environments is a best practice in Python development. It’s quick to set up, easy to use, and essential for managing multiple projects with different dependencies.

Let me know if you’d like a follow-up post on using venv (the built-in alternative) or managing environments with pipenv or Poetry.

Read more →

My First Python Meetup Experience – Python 3, Pune 23 Jan 2016

Firstly, I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the organizers of the "Python 3 - 101" Meetup in Pune for arranging such a well-executed and engaging event.

This was my first time attending a Python meetup, and also my first blog post about a community event. As someone who is new to Python, this experience was both exciting and inspiring.

---

What Made It Special

• The atmosphere was welcoming, and the learning environment was encouraging.

• I had the opportunity to connect with fellow learners and experienced developers.

• The hands-on approach and supportive community gave me a strong motivation to continue exploring Python.

---

A Note of Thanks to Kushal Das

Our mentor for the session, Kushal Das, led the event with clarity and enthusiasm. He introduced us to beginner-friendly exercises such as:

• FizzBuzz

• GetPass and secure input handling

While I couldn’t fully grasp all the concepts right away — being a beginner — the way the topics were presented helped me build a foundational understanding and a strong desire to learn more.

Thank you, Kushal Sir, for your guidance and for making the learning journey approachable for newcomers like me.

---

Appreciation for Red Hat

I would also like to thank Red Hat for providing the venue and supporting the local Python and open-source community.

---

Looking Ahead

This meetup has significantly boosted my interest in Python. I’m excited to continue learning, practicing, and contributing as I grow.

Thank you again to all the organizers, mentors, and participants for making this such a valuable experience.

Read more →